The rest of the trip was quiet - no more revelations or tears or discomfort - just three people enjoying one another's company, watching television, reading, chatting, joking. Sara had never known Gil to be this animated, Grissom had never known Sara's mother would have been so laid-back, and Laura had never known Sara to be this happy.

"I really like your mom," Grissom told Sara as they lay in bed. It was the night before they were due to fly back to Vegas, and they were basking in the afterglow of a pleasant evening.

"When guys start saying that, I'd normally start worrying that you were going to run off with her." She relaxed into his arms more, smelling his aftershave and purring happily.

"And now?" He rubbed his nose along her hair, inhaling the scent of fruit shampoo.

"Now? Now I know that I'd be able to get away with killing both of you without leaving a trace," she laughed. She rested her head against his shoulder. "Now I feel much more secure than I did previously. It's been a great help, being able to have you here. You don't know how grateful I am."

"Honey, I do. I've seen such a change in you. It's a subtle change, 'cause you always come across as being strong and unbreakable, but you're not. Well, you weren't, but I can tell that you've become a lot stronger." He kissed her forehead. "I know we've had problems to work through, and I know you came here for traumatic reasons, to find answers, and we've gone through a lot of angst. But I have enjoyed being here with you and your mom. We have had an okay time. I hope."

Sara lifted her head, propping it up on her hand. With the other hand, she ran a finger up and down Grissom's bare chest. She smiled lovingly at him. "I have," she told him earnestly. "I'm glad you've been here, and I'm glad you and my mom get along, and to be honest, I'm just glad this has all happened."

Grissom returned her smile, dropping his chin to his chest as he watched her fingers run over his skin. "You have the softest touch," he complimented her.

"Yeah, and I can do wild things with it."

"Such as?"

"I know you have an extra errogenous zone."

He blushed. "But we haven't ... how would you know?"

"I accidentally brushed against it when you were alseep the other night. You smiled and mumbled 'Oh, that feels nice,' and your biological function kicked in," she told him, grinning, nodding her head in the direction of his groin.

He blushed even more. "Yeah, well, uh, maybe you didn't hit a spot. I was having a dream. About us." He stared at his crotch in self-loathing. I thought I was getting too old for that stuff."

"I think it's cute and endearing. But I'll bet you twenty bucks that I was right about the spot."

Grissom raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

Sara nodded. "Yup." The hand tracing across his chest moved further over, pushing his arm out at an angle. She gently and slowly ran one solitary finger across the tender flesh on the underside of his bicep, drawing a shudder and a groan. "Twenty bucks to me," she said triumphantly, holding her hand out as if to accept the bill.

Grissom smiled evilly. "How about ...?" he said, one arm reaching over and pinning her shoulder to the bed. "You accept payment in another form?"

Sara looked into his eyes, catching the glint in them. She settled back into the pillow, allowing him to shift on top of her. "Check, , credit card, sexual favours," she breathed. "It's all the same to me."

"Good." That was the last word that passed over his tongue before he passed his tongue over hers.

They didn't make love that night. Both had previously agreed anyway that it wouldn't be considerate to do so with Laura in the apartment. But most of all, they wanted to wait for Vegas, wanted to wait for their own beds. They simply made out for a while, trying to keep their vocals as low as possible, bathing in the comfort and arousal just being able to kiss and touch each other. Then they fell asleep holding each other.

Knock. Knock. Knock. "Hey guys, time to get up!" Laura's voice slipped through the gaps between the door and floor. "Come on, up!"

Sara sat up groggily, and Grissom stirred beside her. "Jeez, honey, your mom always this vociferous in getting you up for school?"

Sara mustered a smile and put a hand on his arm. "Okay mom, we're awake." She turned back to Grissom. "Yep. And don't kid yourself babe, I've inherited the voice." She gave him a suggestive smirk for a brief second, and then swung her long legs from underneath the covers. "Gil's going to eat while I get ready, 'cause I gotta wash my hair," she called to Laura.

"There's air-conditioning on the plane," Grissom warned. "You might catch a chill."

Sara rolled her eyes. "I'm gonna blow-dry it, don't worry."

The farewell was a slightly teary affair. Laura held her daughter tightly. "You take care of yourself, okay?" she whispered. "It's been good having you here, I know it might have been hard at times, but I'm glad you decided to come." She gave her daughter one last squeeze, then released her, holding her arms out for Grissom. "And you, big fella. Keep an eye on her for me, will you?"

"You know I will. And you take care of yourself, right? You ever need anything, or you wanna talk, just call me, or Sara."

"Gil, you're a good man, and I trust you with my daughter. But anything happens, and I'll find you, you hear me?"

Grissom nodded against her shoulder. "I promise," he replied somberly.

"I'm glad you came, too. It's been a pleasure," she said, also releasing him, but not before she reached and pinched his ass.

He turned bright red and Sara's mouth formed an 'o'. "Mom, I swear I will get you one of these days. Hands off my man, okay?" Why did parents always feel obliged to embarrass their children?

Laura smiled and shrugged. "What? Nothing has actually happened between you two yet, this is the last time I can legitimately pinch his ass. I gotta confess, Gil, I been wanting to do that since I first laid eyes on you." She turned to Sara. "He has an exceedingly lovely tush." Sara just closed her eyes and shook her head.

Grissom managed to smile. "I'll take that as a compliment, Laura," he said.

Sara also smiled, and the three enjoyed one last quiet moment together. "Okay, go check in before I go all Niagra Falls on you," Laura said, sniffing slightly.

"We'll call you as soon as we land," Grissom told her, picking up his bags, and grabbing hold of Sara's hand.

"Bye mom."

"Bye Sara, bye Gil."

"Love you, mom."

"And you."